The Dead Sea Transform (DST), a prominent tectonic feature on Earth's crust, provides an exceptional natural laboratory for investigating the dynamic processes associated with continental rifting and its subsequent evolution. This study focuses on the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the Yesha Fault, a marginal fault of the DST. Along the Yesha Fault, a distinct, elongated depression, known as the Yesha Valley was formed. Through detailed analysis of sedimentary sequences from boreholes and geochronological data obtained by optically stimulated luminescence and magnetostratigraphy, this research aims to refine the understanding of sedimentation patterns, rates, and tectonic activity associated with this marginal fault. The initial formation of the Yesha Valley, postdating the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal (-773 ka), was driven by normal faulting, resulting in an accommodation space progressively infilled with clastic and aeolian sediments. The sedimentary record reveals four distinct cycles of calcic soil between -780 ka and -450 ka, indicative of short episodes of tectonic subsidence, each followed by a period of tectonic quiescence, during which carbonate accumulated and calcic soils have developed. Following -450 ka, the sedimentary sequence accumulated in the subsiding valley lacks evidence of abrupt tectonic events, suggesting a transition to a tectonic regime dominated by gradual creep. During the last glacial period, sedimentation is characterized by clay deposition, with more hydric conditions and increased organic content observed between 4 and 6.5 m, whereas the uppermost 2 m of the soil reflects the influence of recent anthropogenic activity. Sediment accumulation rates within the Yesha Valley exhibit considerable variability, ranging from 20.8 cm/ka to 1.8 cm/ka, with an average of 3.2 cm/ka. These rates are an order of magnitude lower than those observed in the adjacent Hula Basin, indicating a slower tectonic regime along the marginal Yesha Fault and valley.

Lake sediments record the environment during the lake sedimentation whose characteristics can infer environmental changes and human activities. In this study, the Pb-210 chronologies and sedimentation rate of the sediment core in Honghu Lake were calculated by the Constant Rate of Supply model. The characteristics of the sedimentary environment were analysed by using physical and chemical indicators. Four stages were divided as follows: Stage A (before 1900): The relatively low sedimentation rate and nutrient content indicated an extremely stable sedimentary environment. Stage B (1900-1949): With the growth of population, the intensity of land use began to increase, with an averaged sedimentation rate of 0.252 gcm(-2)a(-1). Stage C (1949-1980): The sedimentation rate and nutrient content increased markedly. The intense human activity has damaged the surrounding vegetation leading to soil erosion and accelerated sedimentation rate. With the deterioration of the lake water environment, the organic matter source was mainly the internal source represented by algae and bacteria. Stage D (1980-2011): Influenced by the difference in land use types along the coast, the sedimentation rate of HH-A (0.570 gcm(-2)a(-1)) is higher than that of HH-B (0.445 gcm(-2)a(-1)). The results are of significance to the management of rural lakes and reservoirs.

The calculation of the settlement after the soft foundation treatment is directly related to the unloading time of the soft foundation treatment. In order to study the post-construction settlement characteristics of soft foundation treatment under secondary consolidation, the numerical models of soft foundation without consideration of secondary consolidation and under secondary consolidation were established by MC (Mohr-Coulomb) constitutive and SSC(soft soil creep) constitutive construction, respectively, and the influencing factors of secondary consolidation were proposed. and the existing settlement calculation formula was modified, and the results showed that: (1) The secondary consolidation has a significant effect on the sedimentation rate, and the sub-consolidation is only about 0.5 times of the non-secondary consolidation sedimentation rate, and it is recommended that the sub-consolidation impact factor should be 0.5-0.8. (2) The sedimentation rate calculated by the method proposed in this paper is similar to the measured data and has good applicability.